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A YEAR IN BOOK REVIEWSWe bring you the Fireside Growth Series and Lunch & Launches as a way to learn from the experts. We're making it our New Year's Resolution to continue that education in our free time. Why don't you join us, with some of our favorite biz reads from 2012?

"Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business"By Erik QualmanReviewed by Joan Carleton

Mac-OU INC Recommendation Meter: 9

Socialnomics is described by Erik Qualman as "the value created and shared via social media and its efficient influence on outcomes (economic, political, relational, etc.). Or, more simply put, it's Word of Mouth on digital steroids."

"Socialnomics" is a must-read for anyone interested in the impact of social media on society. While it is not a book on social media 101, it instead offers case studies and explanations of social media theories. It creates food for thought on ways to implement this strategy into your own company's marketing model.

Mycoskie travels the country telling his TOMS story to high school and university students, his most recent stop being Oakland University, with hopes of inspiring some to create their own business, as well as making a change they wish to see in the world. A beautiful storyteller, Mycoskie draws the audience in, painting a complete picture of what it was like to build the company, how people were immediately drawn to it because of its mission, and how it feels to really 'start something that matters.'

It is the perfect time to do our book review on Eric Ries' "The Lean Startup." Currently, the Macomb-OU INCubator is running a Lean Green Belt Certificate class that is filled to capacity. Among other benefits, the class is teaching organization leaders and staff how to align their resources for the best chance of success. The INCubator is also in the process of developing a new StartUp Lean class, under the premises, "do not wait to become Lean, start Lean." The StartUp Lean class will be ready to run this fall.

Eric Ries' book, although titled "The Lean Startup," is not only about startups; he addresses Lean just as much in industry giants as he does in startups.

"Why Now is the Time to Crush It!: Cash in on Your Passion"By Gary VaynerchukReviewed by Julie Gustafson

Mac-OU INC Recommendation Meter: 7

Gary Vanerchuk's book "Why Now is the Time to CRUSH IT" was an easy, quick read about how he grew his dad's local liquor store from a four million to fifty million dollar business in less than eight years.

The importance of developing his personal brand through social media is a core theme of the book and a driving factor of his success. He blogged, used numerous social media tools, and developed flavorful videos on Youtube about wine tasting. He credits the success of his videos to being 100% authentically himself.

As social media analyst for the Macomb-OU INCubator, finding new campaign strategies is vital. Dave Kerpen's "Likeable Social Media" provides plenty of information for this, as he is an entrepreneur and also the co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media.

Within his book, Kerpen describes 18 ways social media can work for your business, and accompanies them with many case studies on how these tools are used in real scenarios.

Can you imagine a company that is bounding with creativity? There is a corner with Play-Doh and finger paints to get the employees thinking more right-brained. There are foosball tables and sand volleyball courts for when the employees need to break away, and get back in the right mindset. Television screens display all the stats that are triumphs of the company. Walls are painted bright colors, desks are constantly being moved so no one gets too comfortable, and people dress up in costume and play practical jokes on one another. Most importantly, however, are the ways new ideas are generated, and the methods that are used to spark the creativity.

Please finish this first sentence, if you read nothing else of my review: Everyone, from all walks of life, should read "Who Moved My Cheese?." It is a self-described "gem" of a book, which to them means small and valuable, to me, profound and thought-inducing. In simple terms, an 'oldie but goodie,' meant to be picked up off the shelf every so often to remind oneself of life's lessons.

The Cheese Story follows the mice, Sniff and Scurry, and the LittlePeople, Hem and Haw. They all have their different personality traits, which lead them on different routes through the maze to their cheese.

"Outliers: The Story of Success"By Malcolm GladwellReviewed by Kathleen Buchanan

Mac-OU INC Recommendation Meter: 7

"I want to convince you that these kinds of personal explanations of success don't work. People don't rise from nothing. . .It is only by asking where they are from that we can unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn't."

Most commonly, people are more or less convinced that success is self-made; that blood, sweat and tears are the keys to success. Malcolm Gladwell suggests otherwise, "[successful people] are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.

Lighthearted and funny, "Delivering Happiness" tells the story of Tony Hsieh's, the CEO of Zappos.com, path to success. Zappo's main initiative being quality customer service falls right in line with Hsieh writing a book that speaks to the masses and delights the crowds. This is clear from his closing statement: "If this book has inspired any of the above (making your customers, your employees or yourself happier), then I'll have done my part in helping both Zappos and myself achieve our higher purpose: delivering happiness to the world."

At the age of 24, Hsieh sold his first company, LinkExchange, to Microsoft for $265 million.